Stress & Wellness Resources
Every day farm families wage their own personal battles – whether it is working through a very challenging financial environment, dealing with increasing regulations in almost every area of their business, struggling with market loss or just finding a way to navigate through the dynamics of running a family business into today’s world. It’s challenging at best, a battle at its worst.
Too often, though, we choose to fight those battles alone. However, internalizing that stress can lead to both physical and mental health issues. It can also lead to accidents on the farms, conflicts among family members, and a host of other problems.
Remember what matters most is your health and own personal well-being. Stress can take a serious toll on your body and mind. If you do feel overwhelmed, find people you can lean on for guidance and support, whether it’s a loved one, friend, or your pastor. Don’t ever try to carry the burden on your own. Having people around you can help you keep moving forward, and that is half the battle.
Here are some resources that may be useful.
If Immediate Concern:
- If you have an immediate concern related to your own health or the well-being of a loved one, we strongly recommend you contact your local county crisis prevention center. Click here to access the hotlines for each of those county centers.
Someone to Listen:
- AgriStress Helpline: Call 833-897-2474. This hotline is available 24/7.
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988 (effective July 2022) or 800-273-8255. Or text GO to 741741 for those in need of emotional support day or night.
- Rural Response Hotline: Call 800-464-0258 Monday to Friday (8am – 5pm). Free personal counseling and financial/legal services are available.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Call 800-662-4357.
- County Crisis Prevention Centers: If you have an immediate concern related to your own health or the well-being of a loved one, your local county crisis prevention center is available to help. Click here to access the hotlines for each of those county centers.
- Agriwellness, Inc. offers a list of hotlines that are available and have counselors on hand who understand agriculture issues and the stress of farming. Click here to access that information.
- Iowa Concern Hotline (1-800-447-1985) offers assistance to address stress and mental health concerns. They are focused on farming and the rural area, but will assist anyone who calls. Their services are available nationwide.
- If you would like someone to talk to in person, the Center for Dairy Excellence will identify someone nearby with training in providing advice and counseling in dealing with stress. Call our office at 717-346-0849 to ask for help.
Resources to Help:
- Dr. Mike Rosmann, a psychologist and farmer in Harlan, Iowa, provided the following mental health resources for the dairy community. Click on each link to download the articles:
- Managing Stress on the Dairy Presentation
- Depression and Anxiety: Common and Manageable for Farmers
- How Farmers’ Behavioral Health Impacts Herd Health
- Individual and Family Actions to Deal With Possible Farmer Suicide
- Suicide by Farmers Continues to Be an Unresolved Problem
- The Holiday Season Welcomes Farmers Into a New Era
- There Are Indicators of Farmer Suicide All Should Be Aware Of
- Watch a recording of our mental health live chat with Dr. Mike Rosmann and two dairy farmers.
- WellSpan Phill Haven offers a resource to help Pennsylvania dairy farmers achieve good brain health. Learn about signs of good mental health and signs of concern. The document also shares strategies for how you can help farmers you know. View the resource.
- Colorado State University offers a handout that identifies the symptoms of stress as well as some coping techniques to help manage stress during difficult times. Click on this link to access that handout.
- The South Dakota State University, South Dakota counties, and USDA offer resources to help recognize signs of stress and alleviate farm stress.
- Michigan State University offers an online course to help farmers better manage farm stress. That course is available at this link.
- The National Agrability Association has resources to help farmers and rural Americans manage mental health and stress-related issues. Click here to access their resources.
- The Recovery Village has information to understand the different types of stress and the physical and psychological effects. Click here to learn more.